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United Nations

Escalating Gang Violence in Haiti Claims Over 3,000 Lives Since January

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Haiti is plagued by escalating gang violence, with the United Nations reporting that at least 3,141 people have been killed in the country since January 1. The violence is not limited to Port-au-Prince, the coastal capital, but has spread to other regions, claiming over 1,000 lives and forcing hundreds of thousands to flee in the past nine months. The international community has called for strengthened support to the Haitian authorities to prevent further destabilization of the subregion.

Key Takeaways:

  • Over 3,141 people have been killed in Haiti since January 1, according to the United Nations.
  • The violence has spread beyond Port-au-Prince, with over 1,000 lives claimed in the past nine months.
  • The UN report highlights the deadly impact of gangs extending their reach beyond the capital.
  • The report finds that at least 1,018 people were killed, 213 injured, and 620 abducted between October last year and June 30 in Artibonite, Centre, Ganthier, and Fonds Parisien.
  • The total number of killings across Haiti since October stood at 4,864, including the 3,141 since January.
  • The expansion of gang territorial control poses a major risk of spreading violence and increasing transnational trafficking in arms and people.
  • The international community must strengthen its support to the Haitian authorities and international and national organizations providing assistance to vulnerable groups.
  • The UN rights chief, Volker Turk, emphasized that the Haitian people are "at the mercy of horrific violence by gangs and exposed to human rights violations from the security forces and abuses by the so-called 'self-defence' groups".

Statistics:

  • At least 3,141 people were killed in Haiti since January 1.
  • Over 1,000 lives have been lost in the past nine months due to gang violence beyond Port-au-Prince.
  • 1,018 people were killed, 213 injured, and 620 abducted between October last year and June 30 in specific regions.
  • 4,864 total killings across Haiti since October, including the 3,141 since January.
  • Hundreds of thousands have been forced to flee due to gang violence in the past nine months.

Sources:

  • United Nations rights office press release
  • United Nations Office in Haiti (BINUH) report
  • Report "Caught in the middle of this unending horror story" by Volker Turk, UN rights chief

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